Yesterday, Hallmark Channel announced that host Cristina Ferrare would be replaced as co-host by regular contributor Debbie Matenopoulos. The cable channel didn’t specify when the change would take place.
Today, co-host Mark Steines made a quick announcement that Ferrare had left the show and that Matenopoulos would be replacing her, effective immediately. Ferrare hadn’t been on the show for two weeks and didn’t return for a send-off.
Fans of the show have been concerned if Ferrare was sick and have been wondering if the decision to leave was her decision. On her Facebook page, Ferrare confirmed that she is not sick and essentially says that she was fired. She wrote:
Okay here goes, I feel it’s important to finally step up to the plate and let you know what is happening.
First may I say that my family and I have been so thankful and appreciative for all the love, support, prayers, and good wishes you have been sending me on a daily basis for the past three weeks. It pained me so that I was unable to let you know what was going on out of respect for everyone on Home and Family and the Network. I was asked to wait and I have but now I feel I should out of respect for YOU let you know.
It’s really very simple, Home and Family will have a season 5 which I am so happy for and the Network decided that they want a new co-host and that will be Debbie. She will do a great job!
You can still reach me here on facebook and we shall continue honoring love of family and friends. I truly LOVE you all. You have been my rainbow!
What do you think? Are you sorry that Ferrare is no longer a co-host on Home & Family? Will you continue to watch? Should the show be cancelled or, is Ferrare’s replacement a good idea?
There needs to be Hallmark movie made about this…..and end as they all do with Christina living happily ever after! Shame on you Hallmark….you really killed the warm and fuzzies you have caused since I was little!
I’m just really concerned about the reason why Hallmark Channel decided they needed to remove Cristina Ferrare. Is it her age? Is it her Christian faith? To me, she was the heart of the show. If she was let go because of her faith, or her age, shame on Hallmark. I don’t like that they have not released a statement.
I believe that it was the prayer she offered in response to the ” ORLANDO ” situation. She ended the prayer, as we Christians do, “in the name of Jesus Christ…”, I am not a regular watcher, but saw the very last minutes of that episode. Days after, while channel surfing, haven’t seen her since!? It was her faith or the show!! That’s my take on it! Sometimes we gotta take it for the team!! PRAISE JESUS AND GOD (NOT ALLAH) RULES
Are you kidding me? Christina IS the heart of that show! Mark and gang should have stepped up in her defense! Debi is fine…but I feel it is major age discrimination! How heartbreaking ….I stop watching shows I feel that purposely try to destroy people’s spirits! Christina did not deserve this!
I have been watching Home & Family since the beginning and was hurt and surprised that Christina is no longer on the show. She was the heart and soul of this show. I just can’t see it surviving without her. I came to feel like I knew her and she was the kind of person I would like as a friend – fun, kind, and interesting. I’m sure the other members of the show miss her very much. I would tell Christina – When one door closes, a new door is waiting to be opened.
I will no longer watch home & family if Christina it’s not in the show.
I’m curious as to what the other cast members think about the dirty way Cristine was treated. Mark & Cristine were always so close, did he stand up for her? I still can’t believe this happened. I will not be watching this show again!
I too am saddened by the removal of Christina as a host of Home and Family. I am hugely disappointed with the way Hallmark and/or the producers chose to address what happened. Having Mark Steines continue for weeks to tell the audience that Christina was off spending time with her family for a much needed rest, was disrespectful to the loyal Home and Family audience! By replacing Christina with Debbie, I think Hallmark and/or the producers are ignoring, a major audience demographic – those of us old enough to remember Christina’s modeling days. Christina brought a grace and elegance to… Read more »
I will miss Christina on the show. Times are changing and I wish everyone on the show the best. I love the show and will continue to watch.
For me I wish she had a send off with her family and coworkers and her viewers. It would be out of respect for all.
I am very disappointed Christina has been replaced. I felt she represented us older generation and we were very proud of the outstanding job she was doing. She n Mark were a great team n you could tell that there was real love n respect between them. I would hate to think that because Christina was so open about her faith, that she would be let go! Debbie is very good but she will never really replace Christina. I’m not for sure I’ll watch the show as much as I used to, depends on who is on. By the way… Read more »
I very upset that Christina was replaced. She was the heart of home and family. It is not the same. Just lost another viewer!
Very sad that Cristina is no longer on the show. Just not the same probably will stop watching. Very sad
Very surprised to come home from vacation and find Christina gone. Thought she was just on vacation until I finally decided to figure out what happened to her. She added warmth and class to the show. Do they not understand that young women don’t watch the Hallmark Channel? At least not my 30 year-old daughter… Maybe some stay-at-home moms? Why not bring on a 30 year-old buff guy as well to keep their interest? Lost mine:(
Nope will not be watching. The network was wrong and rude to let her go just like that. I am not in favor of the replacement. Changing channels now!
I will miss Cristina and will not continue to watch the show….Mark and Cristina were a great pair. When your audience thought that they were a married couple then you know that they worked well together. Sad, sad, sad….very disappointed.
I don’t know how you can replace Christina Mark and her made the show just because Debbie is younger does not make the show better what does this say to everyone don’t get old because you will be out!!!!!